The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-08-26
THE PITCHER's ARM.
A New Physiological Development for Bs
Rail Parformers


BAN Performers.
A new physiological development has
come from the introduction of modern
curve pitching, and is known as the
pitchers arm" just as scrivener' s
paralysis is produced by using certain
muscles in excess, the pitchers arm is
the result of the peculiar motion which
the modern pitcher uses to give the
ball that long-doubted twist which
alone seems able to strike out the op-
posing batsman and earn the pitchers $
salary.
DR.. Leuf, of Philadelphia, discusses
this subject in a manner deserving the
attention of all present base ball lights
and of the more youthful aspirants for
the future. DR.. Leuf estimates that a
pitcher averages about one hundred and
eighty pitches in a game, in each of
which the ball is delivered with almost
all possible speed. With the manner
of producing the curve the readers of
| the Sun are already familiar, but the
| special muscles engaged and affected
by the process of curving are so lucidly
discoursed upon by Dr. Leuf that we
portant bearing. He defines the seats
of trouble when the incurve, the out
carve, the down-curve, and the up
curve have been resorted to in excess,
as follows:
The in-curve calls into action most
parti cularly the pectOralis major, the
biceps, brachialis anticus, and flexors
of the forearm. The out-curve affects
the pectoralis major, eoraco-brachialis,
intraspiratus, teres minor, and ulnar
muscles. The down-curve strains most
especially the pectoralis major, trapez-
lus, deltoid, and serratus magnus.
The up-curve is mostly caused by the
pectoralis major, biceps, and supinatOr
brevis.
If Larry Corcoran had but known
| that his trouble lay in the coraco-bra-
chailis. or in his intraspinatus,
wouldn't he have dropped his out curve
like hot potato until the crumbling
foundation of his fame and fortune had
got wellP
The up-curve also strains the lattissi-
mus dorsi. All curves strain the elbow
Joint and tend to separate the radius
and the capitellum Of the humorous.
The constant necessity for quick twists
of the elbow have a particular unfor-
tunate effect upon the brachiaIs anticus.
Alas for the brachialis!
DIR. Leuf maintains that the bones Of
a pitchers arm may be seriously
affected. The constant strain upon
the bone by the pulling tendOns pro-
duces inflammation and calcareous de-
posits, and the perigteum being pulled
about hypertrophy of the subjacent
bone follows.
These are only the principal points
Of DIR. Leuf's thesis. In regard to
treatment, regular exercise is recon-
mended. Do not pitch too swiftly when
you have an "of' day." when you do
not feel able to do yourself justice,
don't try to pitch hard. Let your
average be less considered than your
arm, but to be in good form pitcher
must practice about an hour morning
and afternoon, Sundays included. All
exercise must be taken in the sun. If
the thermometer is below sixty vigor-
Gus pitching is risky, and the danger
increases as the temperature falls.
Never use liniments. They are no
good. Rubbing is bad, too. Hot
water is good, as is also mild galvan-
ism.
Alas, how many famous arms are
now comparatively quiet, and their
owners no longer figures for popular
admiration on account Of a pitchers $
arm. How many brilliant reputa-
tions have been ruined through the
/ ignorance of or contempt for facts aud
principles which DIR. Leuf lays down
with such experienced authority. Let
us trust that his precepts will be
Needed. In that case the ball field
now 50 strewn with the wrecks of
twirlers may be trod by an unbroken
list of capable and unsluggable pitch
crs, each with sound arms and salary
of SIC. 900 a year.-N T. SRH.